Method of and apparatus for mining



Dec. 5, 1939. J. F. JOY

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING Original Filed Nov. 14, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l zzvenfor: fiaap/zllfoy 51m;

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING 7 Original Filed Nov. 14, 1935 mm mm 3 Q him mm x 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. F. JOY

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Dec. 5, 1939. J. F. JOY

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J. F. JOY

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING Original Filed Nov. 14, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mm W E Z w Z w 2 6 w J 0 4.. 2 6 75 9 8 7 x O m l 6 {JV 20672 Z07 fiwep/zllfa Patented Dec. 5, 1939 uuirso attain Joseph F. Joy, Claremont, N. 1-1., assignor to Suliivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 14, 1935, Serial No. 49,782

' Renewed August 27, 1937 iii Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for mining, and more particularly to an improved coal mining apparatus of the combined cutting and dislodging type, to-

gether with the methods of use of such an apparatus, whereby the coal is cut and dislodged in an improved manner.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal mining apparatus embodying .0 means for cutting and breaking down the coal. Another object is to provide an improved coal breaking means associated with a kerf cutting mechanism whereby the keri cutter may be employed. element for both cutting and di lodging the coal. Still another object is to provide an improved coal breaking means associated with the kerf cutting mechanism and including means for supplying pressure fluid at a coal breaking pressure through the kerf cutter to 20 break down the coal by the expansive action of the pressure fluid thereon. A further object is to provide an improved means for supplying compressed air through the keri cutter into the mine wall to dislodge the coal. Another object is to provide an improved self-tamping means associated with the keri cutter so that when the kerf cutter is fed in an endwise direction into the mine wall to form an opening in the coal, the tamping means tends to clog the outer end of the opening with cuttings, thereby to prevent the compressed air, supplied to the opening though the keri cutter, from blowing out during the dislodging operation. Still another object is to provide an improved coal mining apparatus having embodied therein a fluid compressor, preferably driven by the driving motor for the kerf cutter, for supplying pressure fluid through the kerf cutter, when the latter is in breaking position within the coal, to dislodge the coal previously out by the kert cutter by the expansive action of the pressure fluid thereon. Another object is to provide an improved kerf cutter of the coal breaking type. .These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form and a modification thereof which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining apparatus having embodied therein one illustrative form of the improved coal dislodging means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is enlarged plan view of the forward portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the outer extremity of the kerf cutter being broken away.

Fig, 4 is a view in longitudinal section taken view taken sub- Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the air compressor trailer,

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the air com-' pressor trailer shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved mining apparatus in a mine with the lrerf cutter in dislodging position in'the mine wall.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views illustrating several methods of cutting and breaking down the coal.

Fig. 15 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing' the kerf cutter in hole tamping and coal breaking position.

' In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the coal mining apparatus generally designated I with which the improved coal dislodging means generally designated 2 is associated, is of the wheel mounted and track guided type, commonly known as atrack cutter, and having adjustable kerf cutting means generally designated 3 for cutting plane kerfs in the mine wall at any desired location and in either rib, and is preferably of the same general type as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 28,3326, filed May it), 1935. It will be evident, however, that the improved coal diclodging means may be embodied in mining apparatus of various other types.

The coal mining apparatus disclosed generally comprises a self-propelled portable base i herein in the form of a truck mounted on wheels 5 adapted to run along a mine trackway 6. Supported at the forward end of the truckis a horizontal turntable l having pivotally mounted thereon for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis at 8, an arm Q. Mounted on the arm for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the arm is a revolving head in turn having pivotally mounted thereon to swing relative thereto about a transverse axis at H a cutter support l2 carrying an elongated kerf cutter l3. The kerf cutter is in the form of an elongated plane cutter bar it having mounted for circulation about its margin an endless cutter chain l5. Supported at the rear end of the arm 9 is a motor l6 having its power shaft I? connected as shown in Fig. 4 to a longitudinal shaft l8 journaled within the arm 9 and arranged with its axis alined with the revolving head axis. Keyed to the forward end of the shaft i8 is a bevel gear I9 connected, through level gearing in the manner clearly described in the above mentioned copending application, to a bevel gear 20. The bevel gear 20 is connected to a shaft 2! to which is keyed a sprocket 22 for driving the cutter chain 55. As clearly described in the above mentioned copending application, supported within the truck frame is a motor driven pump for supplying hydraulic pressure to hydraulic cylinders 24, 24 for rotating the turntable 1, hydraulic cylinders 25 for vertically swinging the arm 9, hydraulic cylinders 25 for rotating the head It, a hydraulic cylinder 2'! for swinging the cutter support l2, a hydraulic lock 28 for the cutter head and hydraulic operating means for the truck drive control clutches and the truck wheel brake. Also mounted within the truck frame is motor driven means for driving the truck wheels to propel the apparatus alOng the mine trackway. As the various hydraulic cylinders and the clutch and brake operating means and the truck wheel driving mechanism are clearly described in the copending application above referred to, and do not per se enter into this invention, further detailed description of the specific structure thereof is herein considered unnecessary other than to state that the kerf cutter may be operated to cut plane kerfs at any desired location in the coal face and in either rib.

Now referring to the improved coal breaking means 2 associated with the kerf cutting mech anism 3, it will be noted that mounted on the rear end of the casing of the motor I 6 is a fluid compressor 30 herein preferably an air compressor of .the two-stage type having a low pressure cylinder SI and a high pressure cylinder 32, the cylinders being connected by an intercooler 33 through which the compressed fluid flows from the low pressure cylinder to the high pressure cylinder. This compressor is driven from the rear end of the motor power shaft l1 and is provided with usual automatic unloading mechanism so that when a predetermined maximum compressor discharge pressure is attained, the compressor is automatically unloaded in a well known manner. Compressed air is discharged from the compressor through piping 34 to a receiver tank 35 mounted on the top of the arm 9. Compressed air is adapted to be discharged from the receiver tank through piping 36 under the control of a manual valve 31, the piping being connected through a flexible conduit 38 extending along the arm to a connection 39 on the cutter bar, In this illustrative construction, the conduit 38 communicates through the connection 39 with a transverse passage 40 formed on the cutter bar, and this passage is connected by a plurality of longitudinal passages M with the rear end of a longitudinal chamber 42 extending substantially throughout the length of the cutter bar. The forward end of the chamber 42 is connected to atmosphere through a plurality of discharge passages 43 communicating with the cutter chain guides. Self-tamping means in the form of a U-shaped cuttingsretaining member 45 extending about the rearward portion of the cutter chain is provided for causing the rear end of the opening formed by the kerf cutter to clog with cuttings when the retaining member is brought up against the coal face, thereby to tamp the outer end of the open ing formed by the kerf cutter for a purpose to be later explained.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the compressor mounted on the rear end of the arm 9 is omitted, and a relatively large high pressure compressor 46 of the four-stage type is mounted on a trailer 41 connected by a'draw bar 48 to the rear end of the coal mining apparatus I. This compressor trailer unit is provided with a driving motor is connected to the compressor crank shaft, and the compressor is adapted to discharge pressure at high pressure through piping 50 to a receiver tank 5!. Compressed air is adapted to be dis charged from the receiver tank under the control of a usual manual valve through a flexible conduit 52 to the connection 39 on the cutter bar. Otherwise this form of the invention is similar to that above described. It will be evident that if desired the compressor 46 may be mounted on the truck frame of the mining apparatus at the rear of the turntable 1.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the compressor 30 is adapted to build up a pressure within the receiver tank 35 of substantially 1000 pounds per square inch, while in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the compressor is adapted to build up a pressure in the receiver tank 5! between 5000 and 10,000 pounds per square inch.

The general mode of operation of the improved coal cutting and dislodging apparatus is as follows: The apparatus may be propelled about the mine trackway at either a relatively high transport speed or a relatively low speed suitable for cutting in the manner clearly described in the copending application Ser. No. 20,826 above referred to, and when the working place is reached, with the apparatus in the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11, the turntable l is ror tated by one of the hydraulic cylinders 24 to swing the arm 9 laterally relative to the truck frame until the tip end of the kerf cutter reaches the right hand rib. The hydraulic cylinders 25 and 21 are then operated to swing the arm 9 and cutter support l2 to position the kerf cutter at or near the level of the mine floor in a horizontal bottom cutting position. The apparatus is then propelled forwardly along the trackway to sump the kerf cutter beneath the coal. The turntable l is then rotated by the other of the cylinders 24 to swing the arm 9 horizontally to move the kerf cutter about the turntable axis arcuately across the coal face to cut a horizontal plane kerf therein, and finally the apparatus is propelled rearwardly along the mine trackway to complete the cut beneath the coal. When the horizontal cut, indicated diagrammatically at A in Fig. 12, is completed, the kerf cutter is elevated by the arm 0 and sumped in an endwise direction to form an opening indicated atB above the kerf A. Diagrammatically; in Fig. 15 the kerf cutter is shown in coal breaking position with the selftamping means disposed against the coal face so that the outer end of the opening formed by the kerf cutter is clogged by the cuttings, as indicated at W. When the kerf cutter is in this coal breaking position, the operator opens the valve 37 to discharge the highly compressed air from the receiver tank through the pipe 36 and flexible conduit 33 to the connection 39 and thence through passage 49, passages ll, chamber 42 and discharge passages 43 out past the cutter chain to the inner end of the opening formed by the kerf cutter, thereby to break down the coal above the kerf A by the expansive action of the compressed fluid thereon. Thereafter the kerf cutter is withdrawn from the coal and sumped in an endwise. direction in the coal face to form an opening C at the opposite side of the coal face,

and thereafter air pressure is conducted through the kerf cutter further to break down the coal above the kerf. The kerf cutter may also be inserted above the openings A and B in the parallel positions indicated at D and D in Fig. 12 further to facilitate the breaking down of the coal above the kerf by the discharge of compressed air from the kerf cutter. In Fig. 13 a horizontal kerf E is first cut in the coal face and thereafter a vertical shear cut indicated at F is formed in the coal face midway between the ribs, and thereafter the kerf cutter is inserted in an endwise direction successively in the coal into the breaking positions indicated at G, H, I and J to break down the coal above the kerf E at the opposite side of the vertical kerf F. In Fig. 14 the horizontal kerf is indicated at K, the vertical shear kerf at L and at the ribs of the coal face vertical shear cuts are inserted at M and N. The kerf cutter is then sumped in an endwise direction successively into the coal breaking positions indicated at O, P and Q to break down the coal above the kerf K and between the shear cuts L and M and thereafter the kerf cutter is inserted successively in the coal breaking positions indicated at R, S and T to break down the coal above the kerf K and between the vertical shear cuts L and N. The mode of operation of the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is substantially the same as that above described, except in this modification the compressed air is discharged from the receiver tank 55 of the high pressure compressor 45' of the trailer unit through the flexible conduit 52 to break down the coal.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved coal mining apparatus of the combined cutting and dislodging type is provided whereby the coal is out and dislodged in an improved and more efiective manner. It will further be noted that by associating the material breaking means with the kerf cutting means, the kerf cutter is employed as an element for both cutting and breaking down the coal, thereby eliminating the necessity of separate coal breaking devices. Further, by the provision of the improved self-tamping means for the coal breaking opening formed by the kerf cutter and of means for supplying compressed air from within the kerf cutter into the opening formed thereby, the coal previously cut by the kerf cutter is broken down in an improved manner. Other uses and advantages of the improved coal cutting and dislodging apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, and a modification thereof, it will be understood that this form and modification of the same are shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid conducting means embodied in said kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure suificient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon.

2. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direc tion in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid conducting passage means extending longitudinally through the kerf cutter and having branched passages opening outwardly through the inner end of said kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufiicientto break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon.

In combination, a kerf cutter comprising an elongated plane cutter bar having a guideway about its margin on which an endless cutter chain is guided for circulation orbitally thereabout, said kerf cutter movable laterally to out a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid conducting means embodied in said kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufficient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon.

i. In combination, a kerf cutter comprising an elongated plane cutter bar having a guideway about its margin on which an endless cutter chain is guided for circulation orbitally thereabout, said kerf cutter movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to forman opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid passage means extending longitudinally through the cutter bar and having branched passages opening outwardly through surfaces of said chain guideway at the inner end of said cutter bar and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an ex pansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufjcient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon.

5. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, While said kerf cutter re.- mains in said opening, including fluid conducting means embodied in the kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluidin quantity and at a pressure suflicient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon, said supplying means including a fluid compressor and means for conducting compressed fluid from the compressor to said fluid conducting means.

6. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including a fluid conducting passage extending longitudinally within the kerf cutter and communicating branched passages opening outwardly through the inner end of said kerf cutter, and means for supplying through said fluid conducting means into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufficient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon, I

said supply means including a fluid reservoir and means for conducting expansible fluid from said reservoir to said conducting passage.

7. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, While said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid conducting means embodied in said kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufficient to break down such solid coal by the expansive breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon, said supplying means comprising a fluid compressor, a fluid receiver tank into which said compressor discharges compressed fluid, and valve controlled means for conducting compressed fluid from the receiver tank to said fluid conducting means.

8. In combination, a kerf cutter having orbitally movable cutting elements along its length and movable laterally to cut a plane kerf in a coal seam and insertible in an endwise direction in the coal seam to form an opening therein, and means for breaking down the solid coal in which said opening is formed, while said kerf cutter remains in said opening, including fluid conducting means embodied in said kerf cutter and means for supplying therethrough into the bottom of I said opening an expansible coal breaking fluid in quantity and at a pressure sufficient to break down such solid coal by the expansible breaking action of the expansible fluid thereon, said supply means comprising a fluid compressor, a fluid receiver tank into which said compressor discharges compressed fluid and valve controlled means for conducting compressed fluid from the receiver tank to said fluid conducting means, and said conducting means including passage means extending longitudinally within the kerf cutter and passage means communicating with said longitudinal passage means and opening outwardly through the inner end of said kerf cutter.

9, The method of dislod-ging material from a mine wall which comprises cutting the material with a suitable elongated kerf-cutting implement to provide an opening substantially rectangular in cross section on a plane perpendicular to its depth and to the length of said kerf-cutting implement and having two of its mutually opposite bounding surfaces substantially plane and parallel to each other and spaced from each other by a distance less than half their Width, said opening having one of said two surfaces facing generally in the direction in which it is desired to exert a material dislodging force, whereby a blasting pressure released into said opening will exert its rupturing force in the desired direc tion, and releasing, while the cutting implement remains in said opening, the blasting pressure into said opening.

10. The method of dislodging material from a mine wall which comprises cutting the material with a suitable elongated kerf-cutting implement to provide in the material an opening having a pair of mutually opposite bounding surfaces extending longitudinally of said opening, and further having another pair of mutually opposite bounding surfaces also extending longitudi nally thereof, said last mentioned surfaces each extending between and connecting said first mentioned surfaces, and being plane and each of at least twice the width of said first mentioned mutually opposite surfaces, said opening having one of said pair of plane parallel surfaces facing generally in the direction in which the material dislodging force is to be exerted, whereby a blasting pressure released into said opening may exert its dislodging force in the desired direction, and releasing, while the cutting implement remains in said opening, the blasting pressure through said kerf-cutting implement into said opening.

JOSEPH F. JOY. 

